?# 


tTHEOLOGICAL  SEMmAK^* 
*  Princeton,  N.  J.  ^^=*- 


BV    2065     .L576    1850 

The    little   Jewess    ;    The 
ransomed   child    ;    and,    Ti 


m 


^ 


^.^-^^-z-t 


^^h:  .  (  JjU^^ 


^^ 


V: 


THE  LITTLE   JEWESS, 


THE   RANSOMED   CHILD, 


AND 


TIME   TO   SEEK   THE   LOED. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PRESBYTERL\N    BOARD    Ox^    PUBLICATION. 


MATILDA,  THE  LITTLE  JEWESS. 

We  should  all  pity  the  Jews.  They  were 
God's  own  people.  Through  them  salva- 
tion came  to  us.  They  have  no  country 
now.  For  some  hundreds  of  years  they  have 
been  scattered  over  the  wide  world.  They 
have  been  ill  used  and  persecuted  in  almost 
every  land.  This  very  year  150,000  Jews 
were  driven  out  of  Lithuania,  by  order  of  the 
Emperor  of  Russia,  in  the  depth  of  whiter, 
by  fierce  Russian  soldiers.  The  picture  is  a 
representation  of  this. 

But  little  children  cannot  think  of  so  great 
a  number  as  150,000.  They  like  better  to 
know  the  history  of  one.  Here  then  is  the 
life  of  one  dear  httle  Jewish  girl,  who  lived 
and  died  in  another  part  of  Europe. 

(3) 


4  MATILDA, 

In  the    town  of  S ,  in   Germany,  this 

little  Jewish  girl  lived.  Her  name  was  Ma- 
tilda H .     When  she  was  nine  years  old, 

her  parents  sent  her  to  a  Christian  school, 
that  she  might  learn  different  things  that 
would  be  useful  to  her.  But  they  were  very 
much  afraid  of  her  learning  any  thing  about 
the  New  Testament  in  the  school,  so  they 
begged  the  teacher  to  give  their  little  girl 
something  else  to  do,  when  the  other  children 
were  having  Christian  instruction.  Matilda 
was  a  very  obedient  child,  and  she  did  not 
wish  to  do  any  thing  that  her  parents  disap- 
proved, but  she  could  not  shut  her  ears  to 
what  the  teacher  was  saying  to  his  scholars. 
What  she  heard,  deeply  impressed  her  mind, 
and  she  longed  to  be  taught  as  the  other 
children  were.  When  playtime  came,  she 
longed  to  get  among  them,  for  she  hoped  that 
they  would  tell  her  more  of  Jesus,  but  the 
children  never  spoke  to  her  about  him.    Per- 


THE    LITTLE    JEWESS.  5 

haps  they  did  not  know  and  love  him  for 
themselves. 

As  little  Matilda  could  not  get  what  she 
wanted  from  the  children,  she  tried  to  get 
into  the  company  of  older  Christians.  She 
felt  great  love  and  esteem  for  those  who  loved 
that  dear  Saviour  of  whom  she  had  heard  at 
school.  It  so  happened,  that  in  the  same 
house  in  which  she  lived,  there  dwelt  a  Chris- 
tian family,  and  this  family  had  a  pious  ser- 
vant, named  Elizaheth.  Matilda  had  not 
courage  to  speak  to  her,  but  she  used  to  look 
at  her  very  earnestly,  as  if  she  wished  to 
speak.  Elizabeth  could  not  help  thinking 
much  of  the  little  Jewish  girl  whose  dark  eyes 
so  often  met  hers,  and  in  tender  compassion 
she  prayed  that  she  might  be  led  to  the  Sa- 
viour. It  was  a  whole  year  before  they 
spoke  to  one  another.  Matilda  was  the  first 
to  speak.  She  was  so  anxious  that  at  last 
she  found  some  excuse  to  let  Elizabeth  know 


6  MATILDA, 

what  was  in  her  heart.  Elizabeth  could  only 
say  a  few  words  to  her,  but  those  few  words 
made  Matilda  wish  to  hear  more,  and  she 
went  oftener  and  oftener  to  Elizabeth,  and 
every  time  she  said,  "  My  dear  Elizabeth, 
pray  tell  me  something  about  the  Lord  Jesus." 
As  soon  as  her  playtime  was  over,  she  would 
run  away  from  Elizabeth  and  return  to  her 
parents.  She  was  more  obedient  and  atten- 
tive to  them  than  ever,  but  they  saw  some- 
thing particular  about  her.  They  thought 
she  had  heard  something  at  school,  and  they 
went  to  her  teacher  and  again  begged  that 
she  might  not  be  allowed  to  hear  any  thing 
about  the  Christian  religion.  But  Matilda 
was  so  anxious  to  be  saved,  and  such  love  to 
her  Saviour  had  filled  her  heart,  that  no  one 
could  hinder  her  any  longer.  If  her  teacher 
gave  her  a  sum  to  reckon,  that  she  might  not 
listen,  she  made  haste  to  finish  it.  When 
she  had  done,  she  kept  her  eyes  on  her  slate, 


THE    LITTLE    JEWESS.  7 

that  she  might  not  have  another  sum  given 
her,  and  then,  while  the  teacher  was  speak- 
ing, she  Ustened  only  for  the  beloved  name 
of  Jesus.  Every  morning  she  used  his  name 
m  her  prayer,  for  she  began  to  feel  that  she 
could  do  nothing  without  him.  Every  day 
she  went  round  the  house,  and  listened  at 
at  the  room-doors  to  hear  whether  the  Christ- 
ians were  talking  of  Jesus.  When  she  got  a 
book,  she  only  read  it  to  seek  the  name  of 
Jesus  there,  and  if  she  did  not  find  that  sweet 
name,  she  wept,  and  would  read  the  book  no 
more. 

Matilda's  parents  now  began  to  be  quite 
afraid  that  their  little  girl  would  finish  by  be- 
coming a  Christian.  They  would  not  allow 
her  to  go  to  school  any  more,  and  her  father 
gave  her  lessons  himself  instead.  What  Ma- 
tilda felt  still  more  was,  that  she  could  not 
go  to  church  with  the  other  children.  She 
had  the  comfort,  however,  of  talking  to  her 


8  MATILDA. 

friend  Elizabeth.  She  often  went  to  her,  and 
with  tears  in  her  eyes  told  her  that  she  was 
to  go  to  school  no  more.  Elizabeth  advised 
her  to  pray  to  her  Saviour  to  grant  her  desire 
of  going  to  his  house,  and  she  told  her  of  his 
promise,  "  If  two  of  you  shall  agree  on  earth 
as  touching  any  thing  that  they  shall  ask,  it 
shall  be  done  for  them  of  my  Father  which  is 
in  heaven."  Matilda  was  very  thankful  to 
hear  this,  and  she  asked  Elizabeth  to  pray 
with  her.  They  agreed  to  pray  together 
every  day  that  week,  that  the  Lord  would 
incline  the  heart  of  her  parents  to  allow  her 
to  go  to  church  on  Sunday  next,  and  Eliza- 
beth promised  to  ask  this  favour  of  her 
parents. 

On  Saturday  evening,  while  they  were  at 
prayer,  the  kitchen  door  opened.  It  was 
Matilda's  sister  who  had  followed  her  softly; 
she  called  to  Matilda  in  an  angry  voice,  and 
said,  "  You  shall  go  with  me  to  our  father 


THE    LITTLE    JEWESS.  9 

directly.'^  After  dinner,  Matilda  came  to 
Elizabeth  again.  Her  eyes  were  red,  for  she 
had  been  crying  very  much,  and  she  told 
Elizabeth  that  she  was  no  longer  to  be  allowed 
to  come  to  her  in  the  evening.  Elizabeth 
asked  her  many  questions,  but  Matilda  did 
not  like  to  tell  her  all ;  she  did  not  like  to  tell 
that  her  father  had  beaten  her,  and  forbidden 
her  to  pray.  At  last  Elizabeth  made  it  out, 
and  then  Matilda  said,  "  When  I  told  my 
father  what  I  prayed  for,  I  was  beaten  much 
more,  but  I  have  come  to  pray  this  one 
evening  more,  that  I  may  get  leave  to  go  to 
church.'^  EUzabeth  advised  her  to  go  on 
praying  in  her  heart,  as  they  had  been  be- 
trayed, and  her  parents  were  so  displeased ; 
but  she  said  that  she  could  not  pray  with  her 
any  more,  nor  ask  permission  for  her  to  go  to 
church. 

Matilda's   play-hour   was   over,  and   she 
went  away  sorrowfully  for  that  time,  but  in 


10  MATILDA, 

the  evening  she  came  again,  and  entreated 
Elizabeth  to  pray  with  her.  She  said,  "  I  will 
only  stand  behind  you  while  you  pray."  At 
last  Elizabeth  consented.  Then  Matilda 
begged  Elizabeth  to  come  down  stairs  very 
early  next  morning  to  request  her  parents  to 
allow  her  to  go  to  church.  Elizabeth  said 
she  could  not  ask  them,  but  Matilda  would 
not  give  it  up. 

Next  day  was  Sunday,  and  early  in  the 
morning  Matilda  was  seated  on  the  staircase, 
Elizabeth  came  out  of  her  room,  and  told 
Matilda  that  she  had  made  up  her  mind  not 
to  ask  her  parents.  Matilda  began  to  cry 
very  much.  She  felt  that  it  was  wrong  to 
pray,  and  then  not  to  do  what  we  could  to- 
wards having  our  prayer  granted.  Elizabeth 
steadily  refused.  Matilda  ventured  up  to  her 
room  three  times,  and  tried  to  persuade  her, 
but  in  vain.  She  turned  from  Matilda,  and 
went  to  church  alone.     Matilda  looked  after 


THE    LITTLE    JEWESS.  11 

her  with  tears  in  her  eyes,  till  she  was  out 
of  sight,  and  Elizabeth  could  not  help  think- 
ing of  her  all  the  time  she  was  at  church. 
She  thought  more  about  Matilda  than  she 
did  about  the  sermon.  When  she  returned, 
she  found  Matilda  again  sitting  waiting  for 
her  on  the  stairs.  She  entreated  Elizabeth 
to  ask  leave  for  her  to  go  to  church  in  the 
afternoon. 

Whether  Elizabeth  would  have  given  way, 
unless  something  had  happened,  I  cannot  tell, 
but  in  the  afternoon  her  master  sent  her  to 
Matilda's  parents  to  ask  for  a  book.  Ma- 
tilda was  still  on  the  watch,  and  when  she 
heard  this,  she  begged  Elizabeth  to  ask  for 
her  at  the  same  time.  Elizabeth  consented, 
and  they  went  down  stairs  together.  Ma- 
tilda's mother  came  out  of  her  room  just  at 
that  time,  and  she  gave  Elizabeth  the  book 
directly.  Matilda  sat  down  on  a  footstool, 
and  said,  "  Mother,  that  was  not  all :   she 


12  MATILDA, 

wants  something  more."  Then  Elizabeth 
was  obliged  to  say,  that  it  was  to  ask  leave 
for  Matilda  to  go  with  her  that  afternoon  to 
church.  Matilda's  mother  said  she  could  not 
decide,  but  would  call  her  father.  When  he 
came  in,  he  stood  still,  looked  very  angrily 
at  Elizabeth,  and  turned  into  a  little  side- 
room,  without  speaking  a  word.  How- 
anxious  poor  Matilda  must  have  felt  while 
they  waited  for  him.  It  was  a  long  time 
before  he  came  back,  and  then  he  said,  "  Yes, 
Matilda  may  go  to  church."  The  little  girl 
leaped  for  joy,  and  did  not  know  how  to  ex- 
press her  pleasure  that  she  had  not  prayed  in 
vain.  She  went  to  church  with  Elizabeth, 
and  as  she  came  back,  she  said,  "  Oh,  how 

much   Mr.  D has   told  us  of  our  dear 

Saviour." 

This  was  the  last  pleasure  of  the  kind  that 
poor  Matilda  had.  From  that  day  she  was 
altogether  forbidden  to  talk  to  EUzabeth,  and 


THE    LITTLE    JEWESS.  13 

she  was  sent  every  day  to  visit  some  Jewish 
children.  One  day  after  six  weeks  had  passed, 
as  Elizabeth  was  crossing  the  street,  Matilda 
canght  sight  of  her.  She  sprang  up  to  Eli- 
zabeth, and  oh  !  how  delighted  they  were  to 
meet  again!  "  Dear  Matilda  !'^  said  Eliza- 
beth, "it  will  be  such  joy  as  this,  and  much 
greater  too,  when  w^e  meet  in  heaven,  near 
our  beloved  Saviour.  Then  all  who  love  the 
Lord  Jesus  in  this  world  will  bid  us  welcome 
to  everlasting  bliss ;  they  will  lead  us  to  our 
heavenly  Father's  feet,  and  humbly  thank 
him  for  all  his  goodness  to  them  and  to  us." 
*''  Oh  !'^  said  Matilda,  "  how  much  I  should 
rejoice  if  I  were  only  to  be  seen  there.'' 
"Then,"  said  Elizabeth,  "  you  should  pray 
that  your  Saviour  may  soon  take  you  to  the 
place  where  he  dwells."  Matilda  said,  "  since 
the  time  when  we  were  separated,  I  have 
risen  early  every  morning  that  I  might  pray 
in  my  room  without  being  interrupted.  I 
2 


14  MATILDA, 

cannot  forget  what  I  have  heard  of  my  dear 
Saviour  ;  how  happy  I  shall  be  when  I  see 
him  r 

One  evening  in  the  next  week,  Matilda 
came  very  softly  into  the  kitchen,  and  begged 
Elizabeth  to  pray  with  her  only  once  more. 
Elizabeth  did  so.  A  few  days  after,  she 
heard  that  Matilda  was  ill.  She  took  some 
flowers,  and  asked  Matilda's  mother  to  allow 
her  to  take  them  to  her.  Her  mother  gave 
leave,  and  very  pleased  was  Matilda  when 
she  saw  Elizabeth  by  her  bedside.  Her  mo- 
ther went  out  of  the  room,  and  Elizabeth 
said,  *^  Dear  Matilda,  do  you  still  think  about 
heaven?"  "Yes,"  said  Matilda,  "I  am 
always  thinking  about  it,  and  about  every 
thing  that  you  have  told  me."  "  My  dear 
M-atilda,"  said  Elizabeth  again,  "  when  you 
are  in  the  presence  of  our  Saviour,  do  not 
forget  me."  Matilda  stretched  out  her  little 
hand  and  wept  aloud,  and   Elizabeth  wept 


THE    LITTLE    JEWESS.  15 

with  her.  "  No,"  she  said  at  last,  "  no,  Eli- 
zabeth, I  will  surely  not  forget  you."  These 
were  her  last  words,  and  then  she  could  no 
longer  speak,  or  understand  what  was  said 
to  her.  The  mother  came  in,  and  when  she 
saw  Elizabeth's  tears,  she  asked  whether 
Matilda  had  offended  her.  ^'  No,"  said  Eli- 
zabeth, "  I  am  weeping  because  Matilda  is 
so  very  ill."  The  mother  would  not  believe 
that  it  was  so.  She  thought  that  Matilda's 
illness  was  very  slight,  and  that  she  would 
soon  get  well ;  but  when  she  came  to  the 
bedside,  she  found  that  Matilda  could  not 
speak  any  more.  Four  days  the  little  girl 
remained  in  this  state,  and  then  she  died. 
He  whom  she  loved  so  much  had  heard  her 
prayer  and  taken  her  to  be  with  him :  she 
was  at  rest  in  the  arms  of  her  Saviour. 

I  think  that,  after  reading  this  story,  I  need 
not  ask  you  to  pity  the  little  Jewish  children, 
who  are  never  allowed  to  see  a  New  Testa- 


16  MATILDA, 

merit,  or  to  hear  the  name  of  Jesus,  though 
they  may  be  in  a  Christian  land.  I  will  only 
ask  you  to  think  over  the  pretty  verses,  which 
another  friend  has  written  for  you. 

Scattered  by  God's  avenging  hand, 

Afflicted  and  forlorn, 
Sad  wanderers  from  tlieir  pleasant  land, 

Do  Judah's  children  mourn ; 
And  ev'n  in  Christian  countries,  few- 
Breathe  thoughts  of  pity  towards  the  Jew. 

Yet  listen,  children, — do  you  love 

The  Bible's  precious  page  1 
Then  let  your  hearts  with  kindness  move 

To  Israel's  heritage  ; — 
Who  traced  those  lines  of  love  for  you  1 
Each  sacred  writer  was  a  Jew. 

And  then  as  years  and  ages  passed, 

And  nations  rose  and  fell, 
Though  clouds  and  darkness  oft  were  cast 

O'er  captive  Israel, 
The  oracles  of  God  for  you 
Were  kept  in  safety  by  the  Jew. 

And  when  the  great  Redeemer  came 
For  guilty  man  to  bleed. 


THE    LITTLE    JEWESS.  IJ 

He  did  not  take  an  angel's  name ; — 

No, — born  of  Abraham's  seed, 
Jesus,  who  gave  his  life  for  you, 
The  gentle  Saviour,  was  a  Jew  ! 

And  though  his  own  received  him  not. 

And  turned  in  pride  away, 
Whence  is  the  gentile's  happier  lot  1 

Are  you  more  just  than  they  ? 
No — God  in  pity  turned  to  you — 
Have  you  no  pity  for  the  Jew  ? 

Go  then,  and  bend  your  knee  to  pray 

For  Israel's  ancient  race  ; 
Ask  the  dear  Saviour  every  day 

To  call  them  by  his  grace  ; 
Go — for  a  debt  of  love  is  due 

From  Christian  children  to  the  Jew ! 


18  HYMN. 


ONE  LANGUAGE  AND  ONE  SONG  IN  HEAVEN. 

MULTJE    TERRICOLIS    LINGUiB,    C(ELESTIBUS    UKA. 

Children  redeemed  in  every  place, 

Have  heard  the  gospel  sound  ; 
Of  every  colour,  every  race 

In  every  realm  around  ; 
Some,  though  but  few,  have  learned  to  bless 
Jesus  the  Sun  of  Righteousness. 

The  subject  of  their  praise  the  same, 

His  love  their  sweet  delight, 
In  different  tongues  they  praise  his  name. 

Yet  here  could  not  unite  ; 
For  children  cannot  understand 
The  language  of  another  land. 

But  when  in  Heaven  the  ransomed  throng 

Of  different  nations  meet, 
One  voice,  one  subject,  and  one  song, 

The  chorus  will  complete ; 
Earth's  differing  languages  be  done. 
The  tongues  in  heaven  shall  all  be  one. 


THE  RANSOMED  CHILD. 

The  Bechuanas  of  South  Africa  are  di- 
vided into  many  different  tribes,  such  as  the 
Bahurutsi,  the  Batlapis,  the  Barolongs,  and 
others.  They  are  all  savages,  being  clothed 
in  skins,  living  in  dirt  and  poverty,  and  almost 
always  at  war  with  one  another. 

Some  fourteen  or  fifteen  years  ago,  there 
lived  among  the  Bahurutsi  tribe,  a  poor  man 
and  his  wife,  of  whom  I  am  going  to  tell  you 
a  story.  The  wealth  of  the  savages  is  in 
their  cattle  ;  but  this  poor  man  had  no  cattle, 
so  that  he  was  very  poor  indeed.  How  he 
and  his  wife  lived  1  do  not  know.  Perhaps 
it  was  by  killing  game,  and  coming  in  for  a 
share  of  beasts  that  were  taken  in  hunting. 
Poor  as  he  was,  however,  he  had  two  great 
treasures.      These  were  two  little  boys,  one 

(19) 


20  THE    RANSOMED    CHILD. 

about  eight,  and  the  other  ten  years  old.  But 
he  was  not  to  have  these  long.  One  day,  as 
the  little  boys  were  playing  in  a  glen  a  little 
way  from  their  home,  a  party  of  Matabele 
warriors  came  by  surprise,  and  seized  the 
poor  boys,  and  carried  them  far  away. 

These  Matabele  were  a  very  fierce  and 
powerful  tribe.  Moselekatse  Avas  the  name 
of  their  king,  but  he  had  many  titles,  such  as 
the  Elephant,  the  Lion's  Paw,  the  King  of 
Kings,  and  the  King  of  Heaven.  He  was  a 
great  warrior,  and  his  chiefs  used  to  rush  out 
upon  the  peaceful  tribes  around,  and  burn, 
and  kill,  and  lay  waste  all  that  came  in  their 
way,  and  return  home  rich  in  cattle  and 
slaves. 

The  poor  father  and  mother  heard  of  what 
had  befallen  their  boys  ;  but  what  could  they 
do  against  such  a  man  as  the  tyrant  Mosele- 
katse or  his  warriors  ?  They  knew  not  with 
whom  their  poor  boys  were  to  be  found,  or 


THE    RANSOMED    CHILD.  21 

whether  they  vv^ere  even  Uving  ;  though  they 
thought  they  were  not  dead,  as  the  jVIatabele 
had  not  killed  them  at  the  time.  Day  after 
day  they  mourned  for  their  sons,  and  thought 
how  they  might  be  suffering  under  their  cruel 
masters.  Very  dull  and  desolate  their  home 
seemed  to  be,  now  that  they  no  longer  heard 
the  voices  of  their  boys,  and  they  felt  as  if 
they  had  nothing  worth  living  for  when  their 
boys  were  lost.  Thus  one  long  year  passed 
away. 

Mr.  Moffat,  the  missionary,  did  not  live  far 
from  the  Bahurutsi.  He  had  protected  the 
lives  of  two  of  Moselekatse's  warriors,  and 
he  had  a  warm  invitation  to  pay  Moselekatse 
a  visit.  Mokatla,  the  chief  of  the  Bahurutsi, 
was  very  much  afraid  of  Moselekatse,  and 
he  thought  he  would  go  with  Mr.  Moffat, 
and  try  to  make  friends  with  him. 

Mr.  Moffat  looked  at  Mokatla's  people. 
They  seemed  well-fed  and  well-dressed,  and 


22  THE    RANSOMED    CHILD. 

in  good  spirits,  all  but  one  poor  man.  He 
looked  so  poor  and  so  unhappy,  that  Mr. 
Moffat  pitied  him,  and  tried  to  find  out  the 
reason.  It  was  the  father  of  the  boys.  He 
had  taken  all  he  had,  and  followed  in  Mo- 
katla's  train  to  see  if  he  could  redeem  his 
boys.  He  had  no  money  nor  cattle.  He  had 
only  some  beads  and  rings  such  as  savages 
like  to  wear.  He  walked  two  hundred  miles, 
and  reached  Moselekatse's  court. 

When  Mr.  Moffat  arrived,  he  found  that 
Moselekatse  had  made  great  preparations  to 
welcome  him.  Several  days  were  spent  in 
feasting,  and  dancing, and  merry-making  with 
his  warriors  and  people,  in  honour  of  Mr. 
Moffat's  visit.  The  father  knew  that  this 
was  not  the  time  for  him  to  speak,  and  he 
waited  till  the  days  of  merry-making  were 
over.  He  took  no  part  in  the  fun.  His  heart 
was  heavy  and  sad.  How  he  longed  to  see 
his  dear  boys  I  cannot  tell.     I  dare  say  he 


THE    RANSOMED    CHILD.  23 

slept  very  little  at  night,  and  that  he  thought 
these  days  the  longest  he  had  ever  spent. 

When  the  days  of  feasting  were  over,  he 
sent  in  his  humble  petition  to  the  king,  to  be 
allowed  to  buy  back  his  two  sons.  He  waited 
some  time,  and  then  the  chief  who  had  the 
boys  came  out,  and  seated  himself  near  Mr. 
Moffat's  wagon.  He  was  Moselekatse's 
brother.  INIr.  Moffat  drew  near,  and  looked 
on.  The  poor  father  spread  his  ragged  mantle 
on  the  ground,  and  laid  on  it  a  few  strings  of 
beads  and  native  ornaments.  The  proud 
chief  would  scarcely  look  upon  these.  The 
father  sighed,  and  drew  from  his  dirty  skins 
a  small  bag  of  borrowed  beads.  The  chief 
looked  on  them  with  scorn.  The  father  took 
off  two  copper  rings  from  his  arms,  and  two 
others  from  his  ears,  and  looked  anxiously 
at  the  chief;  but  he  only  frowned,  and  an- 
grily shook  his  head.  The  poor  man  took 
from  his  neck  the  only  ornament  he  had  left 


24  THE    RANSOMED    CHILD 

and  added  that  and  an  old  knife  to  what  he 
had  offered  for  his  two  sons.  The  haughty 
chief  would  not  so  much  as  speak  to  the 
father.  He  went  on  talking  carelessly  to 
those  around  him,  and  at  last  he  got  up  to  go 
away.  Mr.  Moffat  came  near,  and  begged 
him  to  have  pity  on  the  unhappy  father.  The 
chief  answered  with  a  sneer,  that  one  of  the 
boys  had  died  of  cold  the  winter  before,  and 
that  what  the  father  had  offered  was  not 
worth  looking  at.  "  I  want  oxen,''  he  said. 
"  I  have  not  even  a  goat,"  replied  the  father. 
The  chief  walked  off,  and  the  poor  father  sat 
with  his  head  leaning  on  his  hand,  and  his 
eyes  fixed  on  the  ground,  and  sighed  heavily. 
He  had  not  known  till  now  that  one  of  his 
boys  was  dead.  Perhaps  the  poor  little  fel- 
low had  died  from  cruelty  or  neglect.  His 
other  dear  son  he  was  not  allowed  so  much 
as  to  see.     At  length,  with  a  heavy  heart,  he 


THE    RANSOMED    CHILD.  25 

took  up  his  mantle  to  go.  His  last  hope  was 
gone. 

He  did  not  know  that  there  was  one  eye 
which  had  been  looking  on  him  with  pity  all 
the  time,  and  that  one  friend  was  near  to  help 
him.  That  friend  was  the  missionary.  As 
he  was  getting  up  to  go,  Mr.  Moffat  spoke 
to  him,  and  said,  "  I  will  try  to  get  back  your 
son."  Ah  !  how  he  started  at  the  voice  of 
kindness  !  He  threw  his  mantle  and  beads 
at  the  feet  of  the  missionary,  and  said,  "  Take 
these,  my  father,  and  pity  me."  Mr.  Moffat 
told  him  to  keep  them  for  himself.  He  kissed 
the  hand  of  his  kind  friend,  and  departed,  say- 
ing, "  I  shall  have  slumber,"  or  "  peace  of 
mind." 

Next  day,  Mr.  Moffat  took  an  opportunity 
to  speak  on  behalf  of  the  poor  man.  Mose- 
lekatse  listened  to  his  request,  and  his  brother 
agreed  to  sell  the  boy  to  Mr.  Moffat.  Mr. 
Mofiat  took  the  little  boy  in  his  wagon,  and 
3 


26  THE    RANSOMED    CHILD. 

was  returning  to  the  town.  I  wonder  what 
the  Httle  boy  talked  about :  whether  it  was 
about  seeing  his  mother.  They  came  to  the 
foot  of  a  hill,  and  Mr.  Moffat  saw  some  one 
rushing  down  the  steep  at  such  a  rate  as  to 
be  in  danger  of  falling  headlong.  Some  said, 
"  It  is  the  alarm  of  war."  The  wagon-driver 
said,  "  It  is  a  woman,  either  running  from  a 
lion,  or  to  save  a  child.''  Who  do  you 
think  it  could  be  ?  It  was  the  mother  of  the 
little  boy.  How  she  too  had  come  all  that  long 
and  dangerous  journey  I  do  not  know,  but 
what  will  not  a  mother's  love  do  ?  She  could 
not  wait  till  the  father  came  back.  Her  heart 
was  too  anxious,  and  the  time  seemed  too 
long.  She  heard  from  some  one  the  news 
that  her  son  was  in  Mr.  Moffat's  wagon.  She 
went  up  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  and  watched 
till  she  saw  the  wagon  coming,  and  then  she 
rushed  down  the  steep.  Mr.  Moffat  was  afraid 
that  she  would  come  against  the  wagon,  and 


THE    RANSOMED    CHILD.  27 

he  sprang  to  the  ground  to  stop  her  in  time. 
She  could  not  speak,  but  she  seized  his  hands, 
and  bathed  them  with  her  tears,  and  wept 
aloud  for  joy.  Her  boy  drew  near,  and  she 
rushed  forward,  and  clasped  him  in  her  arms. 
Do  you  not  wish  that  you  had  been  in  Mr. 
Moffat's  place  then  ? 

Dear  children,  there  was  One  who  offered 
a  more  costly  price  for  you.  You  know  well 
whom  I  mean.  He  gave  his  own  life  to  buy 
you  back  to  your  heavenly  Father,  and  your 
home  on  high.  Do  you  feel  as  grateful  to 
him,  as  this  African  family  did  to  the  mis- 
sionary ? 


28  HYMN. 


HYMN. 

Lord,  wilt  thou  be  our  Guide 

Through  life's  uncertain  way  ? 
Wilt  thou  for  every  want  provide, 

And  cheer  each  cloudy  day  1 
Oh  now,  while  health  and  peace 

Thy  gracious  hand  supplies, 
Incline  our  hearts  to  own  thy  grace 

From  whence  these  blessings  rise 

Or  should  thy  will  ordain 

A  life  of  care  and  woe, 
If  bitter  hours  o-f  grief  and  pain 

These  youthful  hearts  must  know  ; 
Help  us  to  lean  on  thee, 

Help  us  to  bless  the  rod. 
And  in  those  sorrows  may  we  see 

A  Father  and  a  God. 

And  if  the  hand  of  death 

Shall  early  lay  us  low, 
And  thou  shalt  summon  back  the  breath 

Thy  Spirit  did  bestow. 
Oh  guide  us  to  that  land 

Where  sin  and  pain  are  o'er, 
And  bid  us  join  the  ransom'd  band 

On  Canaan's  happy  shore. 


TIME  TO  SEEK  THE  LORD. 

One  fine  summer  afternoon,  a  large  party 
of  little  boys  and  girls  assembled  in  the  draw- 
ing-room of  Mrs.  P ,  Red  Lion  Square, 

Holborn.  Their  mothers  were  members  of 
a  Maternal  Association;  and  they  had  brought 
their  children  to  hear  an  address  from  a  good 
minister  of  the  name  of  Smith.  He  took 
for  his  text,  Hosea  x.  1.2  :  "  It  is  time  to  seek 
the  Lord."  His  manner  was  so  kind,  and 
what  he  said  was  so  interesting,  that  the 
children  could  not  help  listening  to  it  with 
great  attention.  But  there  was  one  story  he 
told  which  made  the  tears  flow  from  many 
little  eyes,  and  which  I  should  like  you  to  hear. 

Mr.  Smith  had  gone  out  one  day,  and  was 
crossing  some  fields  on  his  way  back  to  his 
3*  (29) 


30        TIME  TO  SEEK  THE  LORD. 

home,  when  he  met  one  of  the  teachers  of 
his  Sunday-school.  "  Oh !  sir,"  she  said, 
"  I  am  so  glad  I  have  met  you.  I  have  been 
looking  for  you  every  where.  There  is  a 
poor  little  girl  very  ill ;  and  she  wants  to  see 
you  very  much." 

"How  did  you  hear  of  her?  and  where 
does  she  live  ?"  asked  Mr.  Smith. 

"  I  was  in  Mrs.  B.'s  shop,"  said  the  teacher, 
"when  a  woman  came  in,  and  said,  ^  Do  you 
know  where  a  Mr.  Smith,  who  preaches  at 
White-chapel,  lives  ?  My  girl  is  very  ill ; 
and  she  will  not  give  me  any  peace  till  I  find 
him  out.  She  says  she  wants  to  see  him  di- 
rectly.' I  said  I  knew  where  you  lived,  and 
I  would  fetch  you.  I  am  very  glad  I  have 
found  you." 

The  teacher  told  Mr.  Smith  where  the  little 
girl  lived  ;  and  he  went  to  her  directly.  It 
■was  not  very  easy  to  find  the  place,  for  he 
had  to  turn  out  of  the  wide  street  into  some 


TIME  TO  SEEK  THE  LORD.        31 

little  Streets,  and  then  into  a  dirty  court,  and 
then  into  another  dirtier  and  darker  stilj. 
The  opposite  houses  were  very  near  together, 
and  the  cheerful  sky  could  not  be  seen  from 
them.  When  he  found  the  house,  he  saw 
that  it  was  not  clean  and  pleasant,  like  the 
houses  in  which  many  of  my  little  readers 
live.  The  panes  of  the  windows  were  broken, 
and  stuffed  with  rags.  There  were  no  chairs 
to  sit  upon, — only  one  or  two  old  stools,  and 
the  room  smelt  badly.  There  were  children 
crying  and  quarrelling,  and  a  woman,  with  a 
loud  voice,  scolding  and  swearing  at  them. 
Mr.  Smith  hardly  liked  to  go  into  so  dirty  and 
wicked  a  place  ;  but  he  was  a  minister  of  the 
gospel,  and  he  knew  that  he  ought  to  be 
ready  to  go  wherever  there  was  any  good  to 
be  done. 

The  room  was  so  dark,  that  when  Mr. 
Smith  first  went  in,  he  could  scarcely  see 
about  him.     As  he  looked  around,  however, 


32  TIME  TO  SEEK  THE  LORD. 

he  spied  a  little  bed  in  the  corner.  Indeed  I 
ought  not  to  call  it  a  bed,  for  it  was  only 
some  straw  laid  on  an  old  wooden  b&dstead. 
A  little  girl  about  thirteen  years  of  age  lay 
upon  it.  She  looked  very  ill ;  and  she  had  no 
nice  blankets  and  sheets  about  her — nothing 
but  a  piece  of  dirty  sacking  as  a  counterpane. 
When  she  saw  Mr.  Smith,  she  rose  up  on  her 
bed,  and  stretched  out  her  thin  hands  to  him, 
and  said,  "  Oh  !  Mr.  Smith,  I  am  so  glad  to  see 
you :  I  have  been  wanting  to  see  you  so  long." 

"  How  is  this  ?  I  do  not  know  you,  my 
little  girl,"  said  Mr.  Smith. 

"  Oh  !  sir — but  I  know  you  !  I  heard  you 
preach,  and  I  wanted  to  see  you,"  she  said 
again. 

"  Where  did  you  hear  me  preach  ?"  Mr. 
Smith  asked. 

"  I  should  like  to  tell  you,  sir,  if  you  please," 
said  the  little  girl :  and  she  began  her  story. 
"  1  have  been  ill  for  a  long  time,"  she  said  ; 


TIME    TO    SEEK    THE    LORD.  33 

and  one  Sunday  afternoon  I  felt  weary  and 
ill,  and  I  tried  every  place  in  the  room,  but  I 
could  not  rest ;  and  mother  said, '  Why  can't 
you  sit  still  ?  You  had  better  go  out  and 
take  a  walk.'  So,  sir,  I  went  out,  and  I 
walked  down  White-chapel,  till  I  was  very 
tired,  and  I  wanted  to  sit  down  and  rest.  I 
did  not  like  to  sit  down  in  the  street.  Just 
then  I  came  to  a  church,  and  I  thought  that 
if  I  went  in  there,  I  should  find  a  place  to  sit 
down.  It  was  your  church,  and  you  were 
preaching  to  the  Sunday-school  children. 
The  text  was :  '  It  is  time  to  seek  the  Lord.' 
I  thought,  as  I  listened  to  the  sermon :  ^  I  am 
very  ill.  I  get  weaker  every  day.  Perhaps 
I  shall  die  soon.  It  is  time  for  7ne  to  seek 
the  Lord.'  So  I  did  seek  him,  and  I  hope  I 
have  found  him :  and  I  am  so  happy.  I 
wanted  to  see  you,  sir,  to  thank  you,  and  to 
tell  you  how  happy  I  am." 

You  may  be  sure  that  it  gave  Mr.  Smith 


34        TIME  TO  SEEK  THE  LORD. 

much  pleasure  to  hear  all  this.  He  talked  to 
the  little  girl,  and  asked  her  many  questions. 
It  seemed  as  if  she  had  indeed  found  her 
Saviour,  and  as  if  He  had  himself  taught  her 
by  his  word  and  his  Spirit,  for  she  had  had 
no  one  else  to  teach  her.  Slie  could  read ; 
and  she  had  a  little  Testament  and  an  old 
hymn-book ;  and  she  read  these  very  much. 
Mr.  Smith  asked  a  good  woman  in  his  con- 
gregation to  visit  her  ;  and  she  too  was  much 
pleased  with  her.  He  went  again  himself 
very  soon,  and  talked  to  the  little  girl  for 
some  time.  He  took  up  her  hymn-book,  and 
found  several  of  the  leaves  turned  down.  He 
read  some,  and  asked  her  why  she  liked  them. 
"Because  it  is  just  as  I  feel,  sir,"  she  said. 
They  were  beautiful  hymns,  and  such  as  no 
one  could  feel  who  had  not  been  taught  to 
feel  them  by  the  Spirit  of  God. 

I  think  Mr.  Smith  saw  her  a  third  time, 
but  I  am  not  quite  sure.     The  next  time  he 


TIME  TO  SEEK  THE  LORD.        35 

went  he  saw  the  Httle  bedstead  in  the  corner, 
but  the  httle  girl  was  not  on  it.  The  mother 
was  in  the  room,  and  Mr.  Smith  turned  to 
her  for  an  explanation.  "  Well,  I  will  tell 
you  about  it,"  she  said.  "  On  Saturday  I 
was  peeling  potatoes  by  the  window,  and  she 
called,  '  Mother  !'  1  went  to  her,  and  she 
raised  herself  up  in  the  bed,  and  put  her  arms 
around  my  neck,  and  said,  '  Mother,  I  want 
to  speak  to  you,  and  I  want  to  kiss  you.  I 
am  going  to  die  ;  but  I  am  so  happy.  Oh  ! 
mother,  do  go  to  hear  Mr.  Smith  preach,  and 
ask  father  to  go,  and  do  let  my  brothers  go 
to  the  Sunday-school.  Oh  !  mother,  I  am  so 
happy  !'  She  went  on  so  till  she  was  quite 
tired,  and  she  let  go  my  neck,  and  fell  back 
on  the  bed.  I  went  on  peeling  my  potatoes  ; 
and  when  I  turned  round,  she  was  dead." 

Mr.  Smith  was  very  sorry  that  he  had  not 
been  there  when  the  dear  little  girl  died.  Two 
or  three  day  after,  he  thought  that  he  ought 


36        TIME  TO  SEEK  THE  LORD. 

to  go  and  see  the  poor  wicked  mother,  and 
try  to  do  her  good.  He  found  the  house 
shut  up,  and  he  knocked  and  knocked  with- 
out getting  any  answer.  At  last  a  woman 
looked  out  of  a  window  in  the  next  house, 
and  asked  what  he  wanted.     "  I  want  Mrs. 

,"  he  answered.  "Oh  !''  said  the  woman, 

"  you  will  not  find  her.  The  father  has  been 
sent  to  prison,  and  the  mother  and  children 
went  away  in  the  night,  and  no  one  knows 
what  has  become  of  them."  Then  Mr.  Smith 
felt  thankful  that  God  had  taken  the  dear 
child  to  be  with  himself. 

My  dear  little  readers,  this  little  girl  had 
only  heard  one  sermon,  but  she  attended  and 
believed.  Perhaps  you  have  heard  many 
without  feeling  or  minding  them,  or  being 
any  the  better  for  them.  Yet  it  is  time  for 
you  to  seek  the  Lord. 

THE  END. 


Princeton   Theological   Seminary   Libraries 


1    1012  01173  0738 


